Quick pitching notes: Hughes, Phelps, Montgomery

• Phil Hughes has a sore upper back. He hurt himself during fielding drills yesterday — he was going to cover first base — and was sent to a doctor today. Joe Girardi expects Hughes to miss a “few days” but doesn’t think it’s too serious. He said the lower back is usually more problematic. The upper back is usually a short-term thing.

• Mark Montgomery played catch today. He’d been sidelined with a sore lower back — “A little stiffness,” he said — but it’s possible he’ll be cleared to throw a side as early as Thursday. “Everything went good today,” he said.